Charlotte began play in NCAA Division I in 1970-71. Just seven years later, in 1976-77, it toppled three nationally-ranked foes on its way to the 1977 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four, becoming the youngest program to reach the Final Four.

Charlotte joined the Sun Belt Conference in 1976-77, moved to the Metro Conference in 1991-92 and joined Conference USA in 1995-96. The 49ers participated in the Atlantic 10 Conference from 2005-06 to 2012-13 and then rejoined Conference USA in 2013-14.

Charlotte added its first NCAA football program in 2013. Football played as a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Independent in 2013 and 2014 before beginning competition in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in C-USA in 2015-16.

Charlotte boasts final four finishes in four of the five decades in which they have competed at the NCAA Div. I level: 1970s (Men's Basketball, 1977), 1990s (Men's Soccer, 1996), 2000s (Golf, 2007), 2010s (Men's Soccer (2011). The 49ers men's soccer team was the NCAA Div. I National Runner-Up in 2011.

Why the 49ers: Charlotte's athletic teams are nicknamed the 49ers in honor of the importance of the year 1949. The city of Charlotte first opened a temporary school of higher education in 1946 (Charlotte Center of the University of North Carolina) to handle the influx of servicemen returning from the war. In 1949, founder Bonnie Cone successfully fought to make the school a permanent institution. Thanks to that can-do attitude and pioneering spirit, and in honor of the importance of the year 1949, the school's athletic teams were nicknamed the 49ers -- a nickname that was adopted in 1962.

Gold Ties: While the 49ers nickname was brought about by the importance of the year 1949 and had nothing to do with the gold rush of 1849, it should be noted that the first gold discovered in America was found in the Charlotte area, less than 20 minutes from campus in 1799. Charlotte's mascot, Norm the Niner, is a gold miner, by trade.

General Information

Location............................. Charlotte, N.C. 28223

Founded............................ 1946

Enrollment......................... 27,251

Nickname.......................... 49ers

Colors................................ Green and White

NCAA Affiliation................. Division I

Conference....................... Conference USA

Chancellor......................... Dr. Philip Dubois

Athletics Director............... Judy Rose

CONTACT US/MORE INFORMATION:

Athletics Website............... www.charlotte49ers.com

Twitter.............................. @charlotte49ers

................................... @49erGameDay

Facebook........................... / Charlotte49ers

Mailing Address:

9201 University City Blvd.

Student Activity Center; Third Floor

Charlotte, NC 28223

Phone:.............................. 704/687-1054

Fax:................................... 704/687-0914

Sport Highlights:

(* - NCAA at-large berths)

Baseball:

Under long-time head coach Loren Hibbs, Charlotte went to the NCAA Tournament five times, including recent trips in 2007, 2008 and 2011.

The 49ers have been to 11 NCAA Tournaments, including a string of 7 trips over the nine-year span from 1996-97 to 2004-05. Charlotte boats an NCAA Final Four appearance in 1977, led by all-time greats Cedric Maxwell, Kevin King, Lew Massey, Melvin Watkins and Chad Kinch.

The 49ers currently boast a school-record 12 straight post-season appearances that began with the school's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003 and included a trip to the WNIT Final Four in 2010.

The 49ers cross country program produced the 49ers first female all-America in a sport other than basketball in 1994. That was one of three all-America honors (including track and field) for the 49ers first NCAA cross country championship qualifier Molly Kerin and came on the heels of three straight Metro Conference titles from 1992-1994 - the first conference three-peat in 49ers history. The men's team, which won a C-USA Championship in 2002, sent a pair of runners to the NCAA Championships in 1999 (Vince Sherry; Kenneth Svendsen).

The 49ers golf program enjoyed a run of nine-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, which includes back-to-back top 10 NCAA finishes in 2007 (T3rd) and 2008 (T8th). Year 10 saw individual Franco Castro qualify for the NCAAs. The 49ers won a school and conference record six straight Atlantic 10 titles from 2006-2011 while winning six straight A-10 Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards. The Niners finished with a 2013 A-10 Championship in their final year of league membership.

Charlotte has enjoyed two NCAA College Cup trips, reaching the National Championship game in 2011 and the National Semifinals in 1996. Charlotte has been to nine NCAA tournaments, with its first coming in 1991.

Begun in 1994, the 49ers women's soccer program won its first league title in 1995 and reached its first NCAA Tournament in 1998. In their short history, the 49ers have won league titles in eight seasons and advanced to four NCAA Tournaments.

First year: 1994-95

NCAA Trips (4): 1998-99; 2002-03*; 2007-08; 2008-09

League Titles:

1995-96 C-USA Tourney Champs

1997-98 C-USA Regular Season Champs

1998-99 C-USA Tourney Champs

2002-03 C-USA Regular Season Champs

2006-07 A-10 Regular Season Champs

2007-08 A-10 Regular Season Champs

2007-08 A-10 Tourney Champs

2008-09 A-10 Regular Season Champs

2008-09 A-10 Tourney Champs

2010-11 A-10 Regular Season Co-Champs

All-Americas (1st; 2nd; 3rd team NSCAA; Soccer America):

2002-03- Courtney Crandell, 1st team (NSCAA)

2008-09- Hailey Beam, 2nd team (Soccer America)

2008-09- Hailey Beam, 3rd team (NSCAA)

Retired Jersey:

10 Lindsey Beam Ozimek

13 Hailey Beam

Softball:

Charlotte's softball program claimed a share of its first league title in 2006, when the 49ers were crowned as co-champs in the Atlantic 10 regular-season.

First Year: 1976-77 (Fast pitch: 1985-86)

League Titles:

2005-06 A-10 Regular Season Co-Champs

NFPL: Janine Repole

Men's Tennis:

Charlotte's men's tennis program won its first league title in 2006-07 when it captured the Atlantic 10 crown. The previous season, A-10 Player of the Year Roy Sichel became the first 49er to qualify for the NCAA Championship and Sichel won the league's top award the next year in leading the 49ers to their first league title and NCAA Tournament appearance.

With top four finishes in 5 of 7 A-10 seasons, the 49ers women's program has contended for its first-ever league title. In 2012, the 49ers women's program had their first nationally-ranked players, when the doubles team of Andrea Rivera and Alexandra Zinn were ranked 48th in the nation.

First Year: 1976-77

Track and Field:

Charlotte's track and field program has dominated the Atlantic 10 winning 20 of a possible 28 A-10 titles in its seven years in the league. The 49ers women have won a combined 12 indoor and outdoor league titles while the men have won eight combined titles. Along the way, Charlotte has produced 18 all-Americas at the NCAA Championships.

The 49ers volleyball program qualified for the four and/or six-team Atlantic 10 Championship in four of its eight years in the A-10. The program, which kickstarted the national Dig Pink campaign, raised the most funds for the cancer research program in three of the last four years.